Going through life on a day to day basis, I find there are so many things to worry, stress & freak out about. Makeup isn't one of them.
I love that being a makeup artist does nothing other than bring instant gratification and sense of beauty.
Lets talk makeup!!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

It seems that every one now adays is going green, vegan and au natural. One thing that you'll find many an article telling you is to verify that the products you're purchasing that promise such a claim.In this same vein, I'd like to talk about a product line that I discovered while at the IMATS Toronto. It's called Evalyn. This product line was intriguing and as I spoke to one of the presenters I found it seems to really be all about the natural.

Evalyn is a product line that dates back to the Tang Dynasty of ancient China. Here's a little info taken directly from their website:

"Herbalists had discovered the orchid’s abilities to replenish itself, improve skin texture, and boost radiance, and developed an all-herbal formula only offered to the imperial family to help maintain their youthfulness.

This was highly adored by many empresses including the only female monarch in China Empress Wu, and daughter Princess TaiPing.

Combining traditional practice, culture, and modern innovation, Evalyn is about the strict practice of using absolutely no preservatives, no chemical additives, nor any fragrance to promote a healthy and natural choice"

Their presentation was as clean, their demeanor tranquil and their product line, flawless. Dr.Hu is a world renowned herbalist, acupuncture, professor and researcher.His bio reads as follows:

"Dr. Hu specialized in neuroscience and endocrine; then later mastered pharmacology and life science at SRI. During his first 10 years of neuroscience research, he was fascinated by how closely it is related to the Chinese practice of acupuncture, in which he began extensive research studies.

Dr. Hu is also a famous TV and radio show host of "Understanding Chinese Medicine," which gains a global audience. He has found that many viewers - both men and women - share the same interest in staying healthy and having beautiful skin. He then began developing Evalyn's herbal formula to offer a solution to healthy-looking skin."

The scent of this gentle formula is that of Orchid; a fragrance that is known to have calming properties. The Orchid itself is known to give energy and has the ability to replenish itself, has purifying and brightening properties as well. This skincare line has no preservatives, chemicals or fragrance. It was sought after by ancient Chinese Empresses because of it's wonderful scent.

The cleanser acts as both a cleanser and exfoliator. Talk about cutting down on your skin regimine time!! And if you leave it on longer than 5 minutes, it acts as a MASK!! Dare I ask it to multitask even MORE?! Yowza!!

Because it's a non-lathering powder (just add water to activate it), it doesn't have a need for any preservatives. Its claims to being all natural, are in face, true! Huh.. go figure.

This product can be used on all skin types and will definitely calm your skin into submission. You will see a radiant glow shine through that you're not likely to find anywhere else.

This product is available in two different ways. You can purchase the 7 day clear skin challenge for $9 CAD + tax (and even fit nicely into those stockings) or you can go with the larger Evalyn Orchid Nourish that runs you $32 CAD + tax.

You really have to try it to understand what I'm saying so if you're scetchy, take the 7 day challenge and see for yourself:) Personally, I tried it there at the show and could tell the difference right away.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

As I approached the Kett Cosmetics booth at the Toronto IMATS I could see the sea of people hovering. I made my way over to see Sheila hard at work speaking to attendees and demonstrating product. I looked over and saw Roque by the counter behind him speaking to a fellow exhibitor. He turned to me and I smiled. He smiled and said “I recognize youuuuuu, it’s so nice to finally meet you” as he opened his arms for a great big hug.

I introduced myself to him and made small talk. He sat down and gave me his full attention. We talked about where we’re staying, how the trip was etc…Soon there after we got into the nitty gritty. He took time to speak with me and answer some questions.

Let me start by saying, Roque Cozzette is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met EVER! His sincerity, sweetness and passion for what he does shines through with every word he utters. His insight into the cosmetics world is unique, as he is both an aesthetician and cosmetologist in addition to being a makeup artist.

As we began talking about Kett, he filled me in on the “how it all started”. Turns out in 1999 Roque and Sheila were aware that we were scheduled to go to hi-def TV in 2006 (the original date) and they decided to try to figure out what they could do to keep up with the times and use makeup that works on hi-def TV. They tried many different types of makeup only to find that it just wasn’t up to par. So Kett Cosmetics was developed by default.

Here’s some info taken directly from their website:

"Kett Cosmetics was founded in 2000 by innovative makeup artist and educator, Sheila McKenna. Award winning film and television producer, Doug McAward was quickly brought on board for the essential technical support of HD equipment and New Business Development.

Kett Cosmetics was produced in the lab and tested in the studio in front of high-definition and digital cameras. The Kett Jett System is the only system developed in tandem by both a makeup artist and an HDTV producer designed to satisfy the demanding needs required by talent, makeup artists and producers working with this new technology.

The Kett journey would soon involve makeup artist and confidant Roque Cozzette who shared the same passion about the availability of inspirational products on the market. Roque joined the Kett team for its launch as the Director of Makeup in June 2003; facilitating educational programs and assisting in the integral development of Kett.

With years of experience between the three of them in the fields of television, print, runway and education, Sheila McKenna, Doug McAward and Roque Cozzette are bridging the gaps between producers, makeup artists and airbrush enthusiasts with airbrush makeup awareness.

Kett provides full technical support and training for all professional makeup artists, television stations, schools, retail establishments and prestige boutiques."

Now, being that Roque is the Director of Makeup at Kett cosmetics he works on both the development of their products and the marketing. He is also the one who handles the educational curriculum and travels globally presenting airbrush seminars.

His talent has graced the faces of Heather Graham, Lil Mama, Jaslene Gonzales and Christina Milian. He has also worked on fashion shows such as Christian Dior, Valentino, Y3, Louis Vuitton, John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto, Victoria’s Secret, Prada and Boudiacca. A moment of silence please..LOL.

The difference between their makeup and other makeup lines is that their line is moveable. You’re not going to get an artificial “mask” when you’re wearing Kett Cosmetics. It’s an all inclusive line (color theory) so you can create your own custom colors when necessary. The finishing powders are micronized so they feel like silk. When I touched it, it truly disappeared into my skin creating a flawless finish. Covering a tattoo is easy with Kett as there are no visible layers of makeup to try to conceal. Let me just say, I’ve worked with other lines that promise this and found it to be untrue..With THIS LINE… absolutely true. Tried it myself:)

Now a question I had for Roque was about how his makeup holds up to oily/problem skin. Being that I still struggle with breakouts and my skin is very oily, this was a kind of personal question though, I have many readers who have emailed me for information on this very issue. His answer, “Try the cream foundation”. Their cream foundations have a wax base (not bees wax), vitamins A, C and E which are antioxidants and liquorice root extract which has a low level block for UV rays (though it’s not to replace sun block) and helps hyper pigmentation. He was sweet enough to gift me a full sized cream foundation pot and a setting powder for me to try and report back to him.

Roque was very excited to share with me his new line of makeup brushes and vessels. Named simply “Cozzette”, Roque has such passion for his new creations. Though for his brushes, there are just two available for now, he’s ok with that. As long as it’s done to his standards he will wait as long as necessary. Putting his name on something is what motivates him to be hard on himself and work diligently to make sure the outcome is 100% Roque.

The bristles on these brushes are all synthetic though you wouldn’t be able to tell when touching them. He showed me his powder brush prototype and the bristles on it felt like squirrel. It was soo soft to the touch I had to ask him again if he was serious or kidding about the brush being synthetic. He smiled and nodded. He’s created a vegan brush line.

The foundation brush he gifted me as well as the concealer brush were also quite unique. His foundation brush is a slanted brush with plenty of bristles to get large areas of the face done at once and easily get under the eyes, the edges of the nose and other hard to reach areas. The concealer brush is cylindicular in order to be able to use it for more than just one thing. Using the point of the brush allows you to use minimal product and conceal smaller areas, while with a little bit more pressure you can smooth under the eyes & in the inner corners of the eyes. The handles are the best part! LOL… well, they’re a brilliant shade of purple! Coming from Roque’s spirituality, he chose this color because it signifies peace. The name for this peaceful line of makeup brushes is called “The Divinity Collection”. I came home with one of each of these fantabulous brushes. Thank you Rooooqquueeee :)

Roque doesn’t just stop there however. He’s created a line of containers to ensure hygiene for all of your makeup tools. They’re multitasking so with the larger vessels, they hold all your brushes and the top will hold the brush cleaner so you can clean your brushes before storing them. It is after all, all about the hygiene. The smaller containers can hold anything from your Q-tips to scrapers. They’re made of PVC and are flexible so they’re resilient and crush proof. No more cracking containers or disheveled brushes when taking a plane trip somewhere. You’re tools will now arrive in the same condition as they were when you packed them. I was lucky enough to be blessed with one of each of these vessels as well. He’s just too good to me:)

There are many different cosmetic lines out there, many airbrush compressors, finishing powders , brushes and different places to learn about all of it, but when I asked Roque what was the inspiration/motivation behind his new line, his answer was simple and heartfelt “It’s not about the money, it’s about Integrity”. Roque is a very spiritual person. In his words “Intention + Creation = Experience” and he strives to create an experience for his students and his clients alike.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The trip to Toronto was not a difficult one. The thought of stepping foot in another country gave me goose bumps. I don’t travel outside of the US much so every chance I get to is quite the “Moment” for me. Yes I know it’s more than a moment, but you get the idea.

The train ride was a long one (at least it felt long with all the stops). Business class was nice, but the seats were definitely more comfortable in Coach. LOL… I sat there first and was then told that business class was in another area of the train. So up and walking I went and got to business class only to find that the seats were made of tough hard leather and were not very comfortable on my back side. Not to mention that its soo much smaller than coach and everyone wants a window seat (yep I haaave to have a window seat) that everyone scrambles to get to one. Ugh. I hope it’s really empty when I’m headed home.

Anywho, when I got to Toronto, the train station was REDICULOUS!! It was soo big it felt like an international airport. I reached the top and exited the big brass doors into the city. I was happy to see that it looked just like Manhattan ;) I wasn’t sure what to expect so being greeted with a place that looked so much like what I’m used to seeing was nice. It definitely made things less scary.

Luckily the taxis were lined up right outside of the train station. I was at my hotel in 5 minutes. (Oh and FYI, if you give a Canadian cab driver American money, he doesn’t give you the proper change). He gives you what it would have cost in Canada, and THIS particular cabbie, took it upon himself to keep a tip and give me change from THAT. Never mind leaving it to me as to how much he would get. Ugh... the nerve!

Anyway, the hotel was soooo beautiful. I stayed at the King West Hotel and Residence in Toronto. It’s where the IMATS (International Make-up Artist Trade Show) had acquired discounts for attendees and exhibitors. Honestly they couldn’t have picked a nicer hotel. The photos on the internet just don’t do it justice. The Ferrari’s and Mercedes in the parking area were just a hint of what I was to find inside.

The glass and brass doors opened on their own to welcome me into the expansive lobby. The marble floors and gleaming accents sparkled almost as much as the tall Christmas tree in the center of the room. The small bar in the corner catered to people who all seemed to know each other for ages.

The guest services desk representatives were ready and eager to help with check in and all questions those checking in might have had.A smile on each of their faces as they explained the keys, breakfast and amenities offered. I checked in and made my way to my room. When I walked in, it was EXACTLY as the picture on the internet had depicted except cozier. The far bay window area housed a desk with a lamp and a view of the city that just took my breath away. The kitchenette came equipped with a fridge/freezer, sink, stove, coffee maker, toaster, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, plastic storage containers and a microwave! WHAT?! Iiiiiiiii know!

The bathroom came with a large tub and separate shower. The vanity held all my bathroom essentials and even had storage room in drawers and cabinets. One of the room closets was filled with shelves that served as a home for my boots and sneakers, hairdryer, straightener and curling iron. The closet/dresser/TV area was mirrored and nestled into the far wall of the room directly across from the bed. The bed was a plush, queen sized serenity set with a down comforter, 4 pillows (two Queen and two standard) of different density (two firm and two medium). The leather studded headboard reached to the ceiling against a calming brownish/green wall. Doncha just see it in your head?

The green studded chair and ottoman placed in front of the bed was conveniently located near the full wall window for natural light illumination but also had a hovering lamp to the right accompanied by a small coffee table. Being that I’m not a coffee drinker, that table quickly turned into my computer table. Hey, girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. The only drawback with this window is that it wasn’t sealed (or closed all the way) and I could hear all the noise from the street.

The concierge was always soo helpful and seemed to be in such a good mood all the time. Since I got to this hotel around 8ish I was determined to unpack, stay in, order room service and relax. After all, I had to be up early for the IMATS show. Room service was unbelievable! The steak sandwich and fries I had were the BEST things I have eaten in a long time. Rightfully so as they charge you not only for the meal but also a 15% gratuity and a $5.00 delivery charge. A DELIVERY CHARGE!! We’ll leave that alone since I’m sure my all caps exclamation makes it pretty obvious how I feel about THAT!

The only thing that ticked me off about this hotel was the fact that they put a huge hold ($100 per day) on my credit card on top of the hold for the total fee of the room/taxes. It was a hold that they did NOT tell me about. I was soo ticked off because I was so careful when I booked the room and this was not disclosed to me. When I spoke to the supervisor he advised me this is their practice. They do this to reserve money for “incidentals”. After expressing my feeling about that and the fact that it was never told to me when I reserved the room I was left right where I started. I got no where. So this is something that I would definitely say is a strike, but honestly it’s the ONLY strike.

So, if I ever venture to Toronto again (and I’m sure I will) THIS will be the hotel I stay at. It was just too cozy for words. It was truly a home away from home. Enjoy the photos!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

For those of you who haven't heard of the International Makeup Artist Trade Show (IMATS), and honestly I don't know who reading this DOESN'T know what IMATS is but whatever, I'll give you a little history on it, courtesy of their website www.imatsshow.com.

"Make-Up Artist magazine produces the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (or IMATS), the only show serving make-up artists worldwide. Five times a year, in four countries, thousands of make-up artists, vendors, manufacturers and enthusiasts join the make-up word’s biggest gathering. At IMATS, participants display, discover, discuss and collect the best the industry has to offer. IMATS also offers excellent presentations, classes and demonstrations from industry leaders—and it’s the best place to network with colleagues.

During the mid-‘90s, there were no trade shows specifically for make-up artists. Because artists and cosmetics companies had expressed interest in such a show, Make-Up Artist publisher Michael Key held the first IMATS in August 1997. It offered a diverse mix of presentations, products, demonstrations and education by some of the biggest names in the business. Like Make-Up Artist magazine, IMATS continues to further Key’s vision to educate and reach make-up artists around the world.

The show is held five times annually—in London in January; Vancouver, B.C. in April; Los Angeles in June, Sydney in September and Toronto in November."

It's about that time again, and I just can't get enough. It's IMATS!! The International Makeup Artist Trade Show and Makeup Artist Magazine are being held in Toronto next month!!

That's right people, November 21st & 22ndat the Heritage Court you will find an ocean of makeup artist, products, services, seminars, workshops and much much more:)

Here's some information I got from their site www.imatsshow.com: ************************************************************************************

"Heritage Court (100 Princes' Blvd.) (above) at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto, Canada, will host this year’s International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS). Located along Lake Ontario and off Lake Shore Blvd. W, the Direct Energy Centre provides ample on-site parking for $12 CAD and is also easily accessible by public transportation. Click here for information on how to get to the Centre.

Accommodations:

IMATS and Make-Up Artist magazine are partnering with One King West Hotel & Residence (above) to bring our guests special room rates. Located at 1 King Street West in Toronto, the hotel is minutes away from the Direct Energy Centre and Heritage Court and within walking distance of the theatre and entertainment districts.

Guests attending the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) have until October 23 to reserve their suites at the following group rates: $139 CAD (per night, plus taxes) Superior Suites. Reservations may be booked by calling the reservations department directly (toll free) 1-866-470-5464 or sending an e-mail to reservations@onekingwest.com.

Attendees should quote International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) or Group Code 10E8VQ"

"The competition is open to students of a recognized make-up school and to those who have graduated 12 months prior to the competition date. Make-Up Artist will only accept competition entries postmarked by Oct. 9. Eight competitors will be selected for each competition. Cash and/or prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners for each competition. To qualify, you must fill out and send us this form, along with 8-10 photos of your work. All entries, photos and artwork become the non-returnable property of Make-Up Artist magazine.This year’s beauty / fantasy competition theme is Gothic, referring to the gothic beauty palettes that appeared in recent runway shows (the emphasis is on creating a pretty, rather than scary, gothic look). The beauty/fantasy competition takes place on Saturday, and the time limit is two hours. The character / prosthetic competition theme, X-Men Mutants, pays tribute to Mike Elizalde, a London IMATS keynote speaker and a Los Angeles-based make-up designer who worked on X-Men: The Last Stand. The character/prosthetic competition takes place on Sunday and deals with prosthetic applications and bald caps. The time limit for the character competition is three hours. No outside prosthetics are allowed, only the ones supplied by IMATS.

So by now I trust that you're as giddy as I am. Whenever there is a makeup event going on, I LOVE (and quite frankly feel I NEED) to be there..lol. I just can't help it. I swear if I cut myself I think all kinds of makeup would drip out..LOL..

Get on booking your rooms, purchasing your tickets and saving your pennies so that you can have the shopping, learning and fun that is intended and delivered at all IMATS!!